How Celebrities Get Over Colds

There are lots of cold remedies out there, both conventional and unconventional, that people swear by, and celebrities are no exception.

From drinking alcoholic beverages to taking over-the-counter medicines and herbal remedies, the well-known women on the following pages say they beat their nagging colds thanks to these concoctions, and a doctor weighs in on whether they actually work.

But even if science doesn't back up some of these swear-by remedies, as long as the treatment isn't dangerous, there's no harm in doing whatever makes people feel better, doctors say.

"If people use these remedies and they're not harmful and make people feel better, then why not?" said Dr. Robert Schwartz, a professor and chairman of family medicine at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

Celebrity Cold Remedies

At her 26th birthday party last week, the "Mamma Mia!" actress told ABCNews.com she uses well-known over-the-counter medicines for colds, along with a special twist at night.

"I have a nasal spray that I use when I get a cold, and I drink a lot of water," Seyfried said. "Loads of water, and Emergen-C." Emergen-C is a powdered mix of extremely high doses of vitamins C and B, along with other natural ingredients.

"And at night," Seyfried said, "Whiskey and honey and lemon."

A heated mixture of whiskey, honey and lemon, also known as a hot toddy, is an ages-old remedy sometimes made with brandy instead of whiskey.

"Whiskey will certainly make people feel better," said Schwartz. Alcohol relaxes the blood vessels, he explained, which makes people less aware of their symptoms.

"And if you drink enough, it can put you to sleep, but it has no impact on how the body responds to treat a cold."

Celebrity Cold Remedies

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Ramona Singer

Another star who touts the benefits of Emergen-C is "Real Housewives of New York" star Ramona Singer.

"If I feel like something's coming on, I take those packs. I love the flavors, especially raspberry," Singer said at the annual New York Women in Film and Television Awards. "I'll do it two or three times in one day."

"It has potassium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin B, which are all important in small amounts, but there's no evidence that it will help you get over a cold or prevent you from getting one," Schwartz said. "It's been disproved that taking a lot of vitamin C will make a cold go away."